Jan 27th 2014 back on Plomosa Road

 

Jan 27th 2014 back on Plomosa Road 16.6/1.9 (N33 53.117 W114 03.424)

I left the south December 23rd to fly back to Canada for a visit with my mother, hospitalized on Vancouver Island with a bout of suspected pneumonia.

Now back in the south, I have relocated the trailer on a site not too far (300 M west) from where I was before, off Plomosa Road near Bouse, Az. In my absence, friends Walt and Susan, along with their friends Jim and Patti, kept an eye on the trailer and even cleaned out the rotting food that followed after the fridge stopped operating. This happened – I cannot tell a lie – due to pilot error. The principle operator (me) forgot to turn on the extra propane tank valve after refilling the tank a few days before my departure. Anyway, these stalwarts have earned my everlasting gratitude. At first there was a residual odour but a combination of vinegar spray, pine cleaner and coffee grounds, along with freezing temps have pretty well cleared that away. Jim and Patti somehow managed to contract a case of what they suspect to have been Swine Flu (H1N1) which put them into self-imposed quarantine in their trailer for several weeks. This is a tough and unpleasant way to spend one’s winter. From all reports, there is a fair bit of the disease going around, not only in the south but also in Western Canada.

Meanwhile, back on Vancouver Island, my mom survived her trip to the hospital and has now moved into a new residence called AllCare-Sidney (2269 Mills Road, Sidney BC, V8L 2C3). Here, a team of nurses and Care Workers provide all the help required, food is good and my mom can get out for occasional walks if someone accompanies her, either a friend or staff member.

While visiting, I stayed nearby at a cottage on the sheep farm owned by John Romashenko of Saanich Peninsula Realty - there’s a plug for you, John!  He sold my mother’s house on Wain Road last Spring. This works for me as I can come and go as I wish, cook for myself and only have a short drive into Sidney. John was also kind enough to lend me one of his vehicles for the duration.

Here in Arizona, temps have been hitting the high 70s (25C +), skies are mostly sunny and the Quartzsite RV Show has been in full swing. As in past years, hordes of boondockers like me as well as other RVers descend on this sleepy little town in the desert to gawk at RV accessories, woolen socks “like grandma used to make”, Honda generators and, of course, shiny new (also used) motorhomes and trailers.. All these things we want, mostly don’t need and can’t afford anyway. Anyone wanting LED lights, information on trips to the Yukon and Alaska or back pain remedies should go to this show because all the vendors are there along with the requisite giant plates of curly fires and gravy for the not-so-health-conscious among us.

My trailer has chosen this time to show its age, once again, by making clunking sounds that emanate from the front landing legs, thus rendering them ineffective. Two years ago, friend Walt changed one leg gear to fix a similar problem and volunteered to go to work again. This time, we changed the other landing leg crown gear which was badly worn but decided that the problem actually lay in the motor gearbox which contains four concave plates forming a sort of clutch that, when too much weight is applied, go clunkety clunk clunk. Walt repaired everything he could and, in the process, I discovered that my manual jack mechanism actually worked and will act as a backup if ever things grind to a halt again.

Ted Webber is camped with me in his motorhome, so rides as co-pilot with me on parts trips to Quartzsite that often include lunch at “Bad Boys” restaurant, possibly one of the best finds in Q. Yesterday, we swung by the little town of Brenda - not listed in my GPS) on our way back from Q. to visit Dave and Gail Lewis. They are staying at Desert Gold RV Park, a big park with paved roads and plenty of trails on which Dave can exercise the Razr (ATV side-by-side) to his heart’s content

I am back on the US cell for voice calls but the Canadian cell works best for texts as I have an unlimited amount of text capacity with Telus and the US phone won’t text to or from Canada anyway. E-mail, as always, works just fine and gets checked daily, or more, if I get restive to see your responses.

Now that life has calmed down a little and my mom is settling into her new place, I may get a little time to go biking. Both the bike and I need to work off a little rust, and, in my case, shed a few pounds while I’m at it.

Attached are a few pics including me and my mom at the AllCare New Year party, sheep in the fields, Quartzsite and not much more.